Court of Civil Appeals of Texas, 2013

Isela Moreno and Latief Bowser v. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

Isela Moreno and Latief Bowser v. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
Court of Civil Appeals of Texas · Decided February 28, 2013

Isela Moreno and Latief Bowser v. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

Opinion

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

NO. 03-11-00593-CV

Isela Moreno and Latief Bowser, Appellants v. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Appellee

FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, 53RD JUDICIAL DISTRICT NO. D-1-FM-11-000731, HONORABLE DARLENE BYRNE, JUDGE PRESIDING

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Isela Moreno and Latief Bowser filed this accelerated appeal from the district court’s decree terminating her parental rights to their minor children, N.M., J.B., and G.B., and appointing the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services as the children’s permanent managing conservator.1 The trial court appointed an attorney for each appellant.

Each appellant has a court-appointed attorney who filed a brief concluding that his client’s appeal is frivolous and without merit. The briefs meet the requirements of Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), by presenting a professional evaluation of the record and demonstrating why there are no arguable grounds to be advanced on appeal. See 386 U.S. at 744; see also Taylor v. Texas Dep’t of Prot. & Regulatory Servs., 160 S.W.3d 641, 646–47

The order also terminated the parental relationship between Isela Moreno’s husband, Thomas Moreno, and the children based on his Affidavit of Relinquishment of Parental Rights.

Thomas Moreno did not appeal the decree terminating his rights. (Tex. App.—Austin 2005, pet. denied) (applying Anders procedure in appeal from termination of parental rights). The attorneys each certified to this Court that they provided their clients with a copy of the Anders brief and notice of their right to examine the appellate record and file a pro se brief.2 Neither appellant filed a pro se brief.

We have reviewed the record and counsels’ briefs and agree that the appellants’ appeals are frivolous and without merit. Finding nothing in the record that might arguably support an appeal, we grant both counsels’ motions to withdraw and affirm the order of termination.

Jeff Rose, Justice Before Chief Justice Jones, Justices Rose and Goodwin Affirmed Filed: February 28, 2013

The attorney for Isela Moreno filed his brief on May 8, 2012. A few days later, he filed a suggestion of death indicating that Moreno died on May 7, 2012. We nevertheless have reviewed the merits of her appeal as presented in her counsel’s brief and the record.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.